ARmy Rumour SErvice

**Crash** · 07-06-2012, 08:07

Notwithstanding the inane TV coverage of the Jubilee events, the overwhelming sentiment in Britain - and across the Commonwealth - of the Queen is ‘job well done’. The nobbly-kneed beardy Republicans were as out of step and out of tune with public opinion as Sir Cliff Richard was at the cringing concert.

But, what if…Britain had become a republic? It could have happened after the Suez Crisis, or as a result of the alleged ‘Zuckerman plot’ in 1973, or indeed the Winter of Discontent in 1979 – or perhaps during the Miners’ Strike. Where would the UK (?) – perhaps the Republic of the Federated States of Britain – be now?

What would Britain’s influence be like in the world? Would we have gone fully ‘Europhile’ and adopted the Euro – or sought isolationism – and the end to the ‘special relationship’ with the US. Perhaps no Gulf War I and II? No Afghanistan? Certainly no Commonwealth, per se.

Although I am a loyalist I am also fascinated in the ‘what might have been’ for Britain. Any grown-up thoughts?

**DavidBOC** · 07-06-2012, 08:18

About 37 months after the election of Tony Blair as President for Life, Gordon Brown would have organized a coup. Which failed.

**Crash** · 07-06-2012, 08:42

Yes - perhaps there was a Republican window in 1997 after the death of Diana. And who waould have stepped in as a 'caretaker president'. Tony by any chance?

**nogbad** · 07-06-2012, 09:24

So few people vote (or are even capable of making an "informed choice") these days, it wouldn't be fair to ask them to vote for a president AS WELL!

**Soviet** · 07-06-2012, 09:30

Originally Posted by Crash

Tony by any chance?

Ein Volk, Ein reich, Ein.... You get the drift...

**exbleep** · 07-06-2012, 09:35

You wouldn't have got your Jubilee bling.

**Mugatu** · 07-06-2012, 09:37

Arbeit macht frei

**Pigshyt_Freeman** · 07-06-2012, 09:40

We tried a Republic, sort of, once, and decided it wasn't for us.

What we have done is retain the benefits of Monarchy - continuity, tradition, someone unquestionably apart from party politics - whislt at the same time developing the Republican option of binning a useless or destructive leader (Edward II, Charles I, James II, Edward VIII) when they become more trouble than they're worth.

**Auld-Yin** · 07-06-2012, 09:40

Crash
Your scenarios for possible move to a republic are all political fuck ups so I don't see how a fuckup by politicians would entice the great unwashed to vote for a politician as Head of State.

The Monarchy made a huge mistake over their handling of the death of Diana but again there was no real wish for the Monarchy to go, just to get their act together.
I don't feel there are any real Republican feelings in this country at the moment, nor in the foreseeable future.

**exbleep** · 07-06-2012, 09:47

I suppose it would depend on the type of Republic. Would we go for a figurehead President like Ireland and, to some extent, Germany? Or would we go for a serious head of government like the USA or even France? If the first, then no problem. Just make Elizabeth 2 the first President of the British Republic and carry on as usual. If the second, then a President with no majority in the Houses of Parliament might make for a few heated debates. A President who meets and greets foreign dignitaries and hosts lavish dinner parties or a President who makes the policies and then sees them voted down by Parliament.